Name
Reginald John (poss Henry) Rodney
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/11/1915
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1828131
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY
Plot III, Row C, Grave 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Watford, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields
Pre War
Son of Henry Lewis and the late Mary E (nee DANIELS) RODNEY of Watford.
His parents married 22 August 1896 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. Mary died 1906 in the Watford district aged 37. Henry remarried 1910 in the Watford district to Mary CURD; he died 1935 in Watford aged 71, and was buried 23 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Mary died 1948 in Watford aged 80, and was buried 6 February at St Paul’s, Langleybury, Herts.
Reginald [Henry] was born 3 September 1897 in Watford, and baptised 17 September 1897 at St Mary’s, Watford. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 3 he lived in Watford, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, he is proving elusive.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 September 1915, and was killed in action. On 6 November 1915, the Battalion was at La Basse Canal, near Duck’s Bill billets, Bethune, a sub-section of the Givenchy trenches, in front of which was a system of craters.
It was proposed to explode a mine and the Battalion was to occupy the lip and edges of the resulting crater, as well as the existing craters. By 7 November, the position was secure and the casualties during this 48 hour tour of duty included one Other Rank killed – presumably this was Reginald.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Reginald’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. His half-brother Ernest DANIELS died 5 May 1915 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
